Advocacy

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Published on Wednesday, February 19, 2014

House passes bill to restore revenues for Public Works Assistance Account – Now it’s time to contact your Senators

Yesterday afternoon the House passed SHB 2244 which would restore revenues for the Public Works Assistance Account beginning July 1, 2015. The floor speeches and bi-partisan vote, 87-11, showed strong support for what has been the most important local infrastructure funding program in our state. If your Representatives voted for the bill we encourage you to contact them and thank them. (Click here to see which legislators voted “yea”). We would also like to thank the following Representatives who gave supportive floor speeches: Stanford (D-Bothell, bill prime sponsor), Dunshee (D-Snohomish), DeBolt (R-Chehalis), Pike (R-Camas), Senn (D-Mercer Island), MacEwen (R-Union).

The bill is now headed to the Senate where it’s likely to face a stiffer challenge. It’s critical for you to contact your Senators now in order to get the bill scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and to pass this bill out of the Senate. Let your Senators know how important this program has been, and will be, in meeting your city’s needs to provide reliable and affordable infrastructure to serve citizens and businesses.

In addition to the usual phone calls and e-mails there may be a good opportunity to talk to your legislators face to face as most will be heading home to host Town Hall meetings this Saturday, February 22. Many details are still being worked out as we go to press so to get the most up-to-date information you should contact your legislators’ offices directly.